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Spain Walk Tour, Spain Walk Tour Package, Tour to Spain Walk, Spain Walk Travel Package, Spain Walk Travel, Spain Walk India, India Spain Walk, Spain Walk Travel, Spain Walk Holiday Package, Spain Walk Vacation package |
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Europe Packages » Spain Walking Tour
Spain Walking Tour Package
SPAIN’S SILVER ROUTE WALK
This walking adventure takes place where Caesar’s legions came to mine the silver of the Sierra de Gata which borders this region to the north. The Romans left fine roads, bridges, aqueducts and temples behind. The region is Extremadura, one of the most unspoiled regions of Spain, borders Castile to the north and east, Portugal to the west and Andalucia to the south. In fact, your walk takes you into Portugal and back into Spain.
The violence and harshness of the area in the sixteenth century bred austere men of toughness, fortitude and ambition. Extramadura carries the title of the “Cradle of the Conquistadors.” The explorers and Conquistadors Cortes, Pizarro, de Soto and Balboa all came from Extramadura. Now the land is peaceful, clean and beautiful.
The word Extramadura (which comes from extremo meaning farthest out in Spanish) comes from the area’s geographic position, during the eight centuries of fighting between the Spaniards and the Moors which went on for 800 years and finally ended in 1492. This was Spain’s frontier back then. It is still the least populated area of Spain with about one third the density of population as the rest of the country. Because of this. the area is pristine and wildlife abounds.
This area is also where the Duke of Wellington came to force the combined French and Spanish armies out of Portugal and prevailed over the forces of Napoleon. You will cross the area where the armies fought and camped.
Your walk takes you through this well preserved and natural area as well as the villages and towns. Walkers should be prepared to walk from about five to ten miles per day although vehicle options are available on longer days.
DETAILS
Includes 7 nights hotel/cortijo/farm house/Parador accommodaall meals, 5 or 6 guided walking days, luggage transfer, transto/from Madrid Airport at pre-set time, tax.
Day 1
You will be met at Madrid airport and driven for about 4 hours to Finca Vaqueril. This beautiful 19th century farmhouse is 5 miles from the road, set in 2000 acres of classic Extremadura landscape. The rooms have great character all with their own bathrooms. The first two nights are spent here.
Day 2
An easy morning’s walk on the estate amongst cork and holm oaks, Visigothic tombs, black-leg pigs and circling red kites, ending with a picnic lunch. An afternoon siesta and then 45 minutes by vehicle to Caceres for a walking tour of this conquistador city. Dinner–the food is excellent–and the night at Finca Vaqueril. Walk is about 5 miles.
Day 3
You leave the Finca by vehicle for a short drive via the Roman bridge at McAntara and across the border into Portugal. Here you pick up the walking route at the beautiful Salvaterra. do Extremo. Now you are walking in Portugal along the Erjas River (Erges–Portuguese) with views far into Portugal and back across to Spain and the romantic cliff top castle of Pefiafiel. You walk through one-time smugglers’ territory, accompanied by pack animals. There is much scenic variety with river gorge and riverine grassland, forestry, young and mature, and views to open farmland on the Spanish side. You are likely to encounter plenty of bird life. En route there will be a picnic lunch. Evening brings you to the Portuguese spa of Termas de Monfortinho where you spend two nights in the comfortable Hotel Fonte Santa. Walk about 8 miles with vehicle option.
Day 4
Light walking/rest day in Portugal, with visits to Monsanto, mountain top settlement where the houses back into granite boulders far bigger than themselves, and Idanha-a-Velha, a Roman town much larger than the medieval village now within its walls. An optional two-hour walk links the two. Optional walk of 4.5 miles.
Day 5
A short vehicle lift will take you to the start of the early morning walk back across the frontier into Spain, with pack animals, through open country and rolling farmland with mountain views ahead and an introduction to the Peninsular War en route. After a picnic lunch (vehicle options from here), you arrive at the enchanting stone farmhouse of El Cabezo, the farm and family estate of Miguel and Maria Muriel Garcia. Miguel has 100 head of cattle, cork oaks and excellent olive oil and looks forward to showing you the farming side of his life, Maria has done up six bedrooms to a very high standard of comfort, all with their own bathrooms. Within a short distance there is the home of Maria Rosa de Torres-Peralta, Fuente Arcada, with equally stylish rooms (and a hermitage on the estate). The two houses at the foot of the Sierra de Gata accommodate the whole group most comfortably. Walk about 10 miles then 4 miles with vehicle options.
Day 6
A leisurely start for a higher walk in the Sierra de Gata. There will be a picnic lunch en route Nvirh a vehicle option. Walk about 8 miles with vehicle option.
Day 7
The morning starts with an upward drive to the pass of Santa Clara. From here you walk to the River Agueda at Navasfrias. As You walk you cross the watershed between the Tagus and the Duero, so passing from Extremadura into Old Castile. The vehicles will meet you in Navasfrias and take you on, first for a picnic lunch and then to the historic walled city of Ciudad Rodrigo, crossing an area where Spanish, French, British and Portuguese armies marched and counter marched during the Peninsular War. The tiny city endured two sieges, the second giving the future Duke of Wellington a costly but important victory. In the afternoon there will be time to walk round the city with your guide explaining the history and enjoying the architecture and the atmosphere of a well preserved historic town, unchanged by economic success. The cathedral still bears marks of cannon shot. Dinner is taken in the parador.
Day 8
Early morning departure to Madrid for the flight home.
Related Informations & Tour Packages
This walking adventure takes place where Caesar’s legions came to mine the silver of the Sierra de Gata which borders this region to the north. The Romans left fine roads, bridges, aqueducts and temples behind. The region is Extremadura, one of the most unspoiled regions of Spain, borders Castile to the north and east, Portugal to the west and Andalucia to the south. In fact, your walk takes you into Portugal and back into Spain.
The violence and harshness of the area in the sixteenth century bred austere men of toughness, fortitude and ambition. Extramadura carries the title of the “Cradle of the Conquistadors.” The explorers and Conquistadors Cortes, Pizarro, de Soto and Balboa all came from Extramadura. Now the land is peaceful, clean and beautiful.
The word Extramadura (which comes from extremo meaning farthest out in Spanish) comes from the area’s geographic position, during the eight centuries of fighting between the Spaniards and the Moors which went on for 800 years and finally ended in 1492. This was Spain’s frontier back then. It is still the least populated area of Spain with about one third the density of population as the rest of the country. Because of this. the area is pristine and wildlife abounds.
This area is also where the Duke of Wellington came to force the combined French and Spanish armies out of Portugal and prevailed over the forces of Napoleon. You will cross the area where the armies fought and camped.
Your walk takes you through this well preserved and natural area as well as the villages and towns. Walkers should be prepared to walk from about five to ten miles per day although vehicle options are available on longer days.
DETAILS
Includes 7 nights hotel/cortijo/farm house/Parador accommodaall meals, 5 or 6 guided walking days, luggage transfer, transto/from Madrid Airport at pre-set time, tax.
Day 1
You will be met at Madrid airport and driven for about 4 hours to Finca Vaqueril. This beautiful 19th century farmhouse is 5 miles from the road, set in 2000 acres of classic Extremadura landscape. The rooms have great character all with their own bathrooms. The first two nights are spent here.
Day 2
An easy morning’s walk on the estate amongst cork and holm oaks, Visigothic tombs, black-leg pigs and circling red kites, ending with a picnic lunch. An afternoon siesta and then 45 minutes by vehicle to Caceres for a walking tour of this conquistador city. Dinner–the food is excellent–and the night at Finca Vaqueril. Walk is about 5 miles.
Day 3
You leave the Finca by vehicle for a short drive via the Roman bridge at McAntara and across the border into Portugal. Here you pick up the walking route at the beautiful Salvaterra. do Extremo. Now you are walking in Portugal along the Erjas River (Erges–Portuguese) with views far into Portugal and back across to Spain and the romantic cliff top castle of Pefiafiel. You walk through one-time smugglers’ territory, accompanied by pack animals. There is much scenic variety with river gorge and riverine grassland, forestry, young and mature, and views to open farmland on the Spanish side. You are likely to encounter plenty of bird life. En route there will be a picnic lunch. Evening brings you to the Portuguese spa of Termas de Monfortinho where you spend two nights in the comfortable Hotel Fonte Santa. Walk about 8 miles with vehicle option.
Day 4
Light walking/rest day in Portugal, with visits to Monsanto, mountain top settlement where the houses back into granite boulders far bigger than themselves, and Idanha-a-Velha, a Roman town much larger than the medieval village now within its walls. An optional two-hour walk links the two. Optional walk of 4.5 miles.
Day 5
A short vehicle lift will take you to the start of the early morning walk back across the frontier into Spain, with pack animals, through open country and rolling farmland with mountain views ahead and an introduction to the Peninsular War en route. After a picnic lunch (vehicle options from here), you arrive at the enchanting stone farmhouse of El Cabezo, the farm and family estate of Miguel and Maria Muriel Garcia. Miguel has 100 head of cattle, cork oaks and excellent olive oil and looks forward to showing you the farming side of his life, Maria has done up six bedrooms to a very high standard of comfort, all with their own bathrooms. Within a short distance there is the home of Maria Rosa de Torres-Peralta, Fuente Arcada, with equally stylish rooms (and a hermitage on the estate). The two houses at the foot of the Sierra de Gata accommodate the whole group most comfortably. Walk about 10 miles then 4 miles with vehicle options.
Day 6
A leisurely start for a higher walk in the Sierra de Gata. There will be a picnic lunch en route Nvirh a vehicle option. Walk about 8 miles with vehicle option.
Day 7
The morning starts with an upward drive to the pass of Santa Clara. From here you walk to the River Agueda at Navasfrias. As You walk you cross the watershed between the Tagus and the Duero, so passing from Extremadura into Old Castile. The vehicles will meet you in Navasfrias and take you on, first for a picnic lunch and then to the historic walled city of Ciudad Rodrigo, crossing an area where Spanish, French, British and Portuguese armies marched and counter marched during the Peninsular War. The tiny city endured two sieges, the second giving the future Duke of Wellington a costly but important victory. In the afternoon there will be time to walk round the city with your guide explaining the history and enjoying the architecture and the atmosphere of a well preserved historic town, unchanged by economic success. The cathedral still bears marks of cannon shot. Dinner is taken in the parador.
Day 8
Early morning departure to Madrid for the flight home.
Related Informations & Tour Packages
For Spain WalkTour India & Tour to Spain Walk
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